Steering mechanism



Nov. 3, 1942. D,'RU$$EL| 2,301,146

smmum uncmmrsu Original Filed lllarc'h 12, 1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I4 24 i -I/ i h 22 2! E I Fig.1

INVENTOR. John D. Russell A TTORNEY Nov. 3, 1942.

J. D. RUSSELL STEERING MECHANISM Original Filed March 12,

1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

ni'uliil'lmi y- 5 INVENTOR. John D. Russell AITTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1942 John: D. Russell, Sugarcreek Township; Venango County, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application Serial 'No. 382,927, March'12, 1941. This application May 7, 1941,

Serial No. 392,-257

3 Claims.

This invention relates tomechanism for steering self-propelled vehicles, and more particularly to improvements in steerin mechanisms for vehicles adapted to be driven without turning in reverse directions, and is a continuation of my pending application Serial No. 382,927, filed March 12, 1941.

Self-propelled vehicles are now being used extensifvely in confined places or areas such as the rooms and entries of underground or pit mines where it is impossible to turn the vehicle around,

and consequently the vehicle travels forward in the normal manner when moving in one direction and backward or in reverse when moving in the opposite direction.

The most common type of self-propelled vehicle used in the coal mines of this country, has a platform on one side of the car on which the operator rides, and steering is accomplished by means of a steering mechanism having a vertically extending column which is mounted in the center of the platform.

As most of the cars now in use have an overall height of 42" or less above the ground, it is apparent that a vertically extending steering columr'i mounted in the center of the operators platform makes it necessary for the operator to ride in such an extremely cramped position that he has difliculty in properly handling or manipulating the car, which increases materially the risk of injury to the operator and also to others working in or about the path of travel of the vehicle.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for steerin a self-propelled vehicle, in which the steering column lies in a horizontal plane above the platform, thus providing ample leg room for the operator therebeneath, and in which the steering wheel is rotatable about the column in a, vertical plane to permit the wheel to be turned to the proper position for steering when the vehicle is moving in either direction.

Another object is to provide a steering mechanism for a self-propelled vehicle which is easy to install on the vehicle, and when installed is not only positive and simple in operation, but affords the maximum protection for the operator.

These and other objects which will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art, are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a steering control mechanism made in accordance with my invention;

' Fig. 2' is a bottom view of the mechanism shown in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of a self-propelled vehicle equipped with my improved steering control mechanism having portions thereof broken away for convenience of illustration.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I0 represents a steering wheel mounted on the end of a steering shaft -I I, which is rotatably journaled in upper and-lower bearings I2 and I3, respectively, mounted--in a two-part housing I4. The housing I4is rotatably mounted on the hub l5 of a hollowpo'st or column l6for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the post. Each section of the housing is provided with an inwardly projecting flange I! and an annular lip I8 which provides an annular recess I9 therebetween for receiving the hub I5.

The opposite end of the post or column I6 is provided with a flange 20 which, as'illustrated in Fig. 4, is adapted to be bolted to the side wall 25 of a vehicle so that it extends outwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane above an operatorsplatform 26. The vehicle is provided with a set of steerable wheels 21 and in order that the rotation or'turning of the steering wheel I0 will be transmitted to the Wheels 21 to steer the same, the shaft II has a bevel gear 2| secured thereto which meshes with a bevel gear 22 secured to the end of a shaft 23 journaled in bearing 24, mounted in the post or column I 6. A sprocket 28 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 23, which is connected by a chain 29 with a sprocket 30 on one end of a horizontal shaft 3|. The shaft 3| is journaled in the side Walls Ziof the vehicle beneath the floor 32 thereof and provides the main steering shaft of the vehicle. The shaft 3| is provided with the usual steering gear unit 33 which operates a steering knuckle 34, connected to the steering arm 35 of the wheels 21 in the usual manner.

As heretofore stated, the housing I4 is rotatably mounted on the hub I5 of the column or post I6. This construction. permits the housing I4 to be turned about the post to position the steering wheel Ill on either side of the column IS, where it is readily accessible to the operator regardless of the directionof travel of the vehicle.

In order to hold the wheel I0 in proper position on either side of the column I6, or directly thereabove, the outer periphery of the. housing I4 is provided with a series of slots or notches 36 in which a latch 31, pivoted at 38 to the bottom of the post or column i8, is adapted to be received. The latch 31 is yieldably urged into the slots or notches 36 by a spring 39 having one end disposed in a recess 56 in the bottom of the post 16, and the other end in a recess '4] in lug 42 extending rearwardly from the latch 37. In order that the latch may be easily and readily operated, a lever 43 is secured thereto, which is arranged to extend downwardly from the post it.

From the foregoing description of my invention it is apparent that I have .provideda steering control mechanism for a self propelled vehicle which is adapted to be mounted 'on the side of the vehicle, and the column or post it supporting the steering wheel It extends horizontally I and provides an unobstructed space therebeneath which is freely accessible to the operator.

When it is desired to turn the steering wheel ill from one side of the column Hi to the other, depending on the direction of travel of the car, it is only necessary to press the handle 33 and release the latch 31 from the notch 35, afterwhich the housing M- may be readily rotated about the hub I5.

Since the latch 3i is continuously urged toward the notches 36, it is obvious that when the steering wheel is moved to the desired position the latch 31 will automatically snap into the notch 36 and lock the housing I l against further turning on the hub 55. \IVhen the housing I! is rotated about the column 16, the gear 2| rolls around the bevel gear 22, but is never moved out of engagement therewith; v consequently the wheels 2'! may be steered by turning the wheel Ill and the shaft H, regardless of the position of the housing 14* on the post l5.

While one illustrative embodiment of my invention has been described, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to any par ticular embodiment or otherwise than by the terms or" the appended-claims.

What I claim is: 1. In a steering control mechanism for a vehicle having an operators station alongone side.

wall thereof, the combination comprising a hollow steering post adapted to be mounted onthe side of said vehicle and to extend outwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane,

said steering column having an enlarged annular hub at its outer end, a two-part housing mounted on said hub for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said column, each part of said housing having spaced inwardly projecting flanges to provide a recess therebetween for receiving said hub, and means for locking said housing in fixed relation to said column including a latch pivotally mounted on said column and adapted to seat in one of a series of notches in said housing, and means for yieldably urging said latch into seating engagement with the notches in said housing.

2. In a steering control mechanism for vehicles having an operators station along one side thereof, the combination comprising a steering post adaptedflto be secured to the side wall of said vehicle and to project outwardly therefrom, an enlarged annular hub on the outer end of said steering post, a two-part housing carrying a steering wheel rotatably mounted on said hub, each part of said housing having spaced inwardly projecting flanges forming, when said parts are assembled, a circular recess for receiving said hub and means for locking said housing in fixed relation to said post including a latch pivotally mounted on said post and adapted to seat in one of a series of notches in said housing, a lug projecting from said latch, and a spring interposed between said lug and said post for yieldably urging said latch into seatingengagement in one of said notches. I p

3, In a steering control mechanism for vehicles having an operators station along one side thereof, the combination comprising a steering post adapted to be secured to the side wall-of said vehicle and to project outwardly therefrom, an enlarged annular hub on the outer end of said post, a two-part housing carrying a steering wheel rotatablymounted on said hub, and means for locking said housing in fixed relation to said post, including a latch pivotally mounted on said post and adapted to seatin one of a series of notches in said housing on rotation thereof, a lug projecting from said latch, a spring interposed between said" lug and said post for yieldably urging said latch into said notches and means for 

